Before stepping outside the terminal, I realize I am singing a Beatles song that I heard, while walking up from the gate, as I passed an 8-track music shop. It was the song Because, from Abbey Road! And the words they were singing as I passed explain well why I am willing to go through the Wall to the East for Anja: Because... Love is all, love is you.
Then I think What is the song after Because on the album? And I remember, it is You Never Give Me Your Money.
I walk through the airport front doors, humming You Never Give Me Your Money, and now I'm outside the terminal, and look up to the right, see my white jumbo jet with the characteristic blue Pan Am globe on the tail powering up into the sky. Well, that's that, I say to myself.
I think quickly, and make a decision: I will take the U-bahn (subway) back to Lichterfelde, only I will not return to Andrews compound, I will go instead to our sister barracks, McNair, about a mile away, where the infantry battalions are quartered. My friend Rhonda Azeveda is stationed there, and I can stay in her room, at least for tonight.
I met Rhonda (born Him-Chan, which means strong in Korean) at Ft. Dix as we were both being processed for assignment to the Berlin Brigade. She had been in Korea, which was fortuitous since her family is Korean, and then a few months at Dix. Her MOS (Army specialty) is infantry, like mine. Only I had learned a new skill, Records, at Dix and so have been in Service Company stationed at Andrews while Rhonda carried on as an infantry warrior girl at McNair.
Infantry in Berlin is mostly symbolic. Our four thousand infantry force is no match for the surrounding two hundred thousand Soviet and East German infantry who are arrayed against us, should hostilities ever break out between the opposing alliances. This is what the Cold War is all about—a nervous, dangerous tension, balanced precariously on a knife blade's edge.
During our months in Berlin, Rhonda and I discover we share some remarkably similar life experience, only she is, in addition to being a strike (slang for top-notch) soldier, a brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. So, staying with her is a safe bet since I'll be in a strange place where I am not known.
My military ID will get me into McNair, and I can only hope Rhonda is on the compound!
Then tomorrow, I will do some research on how to find the Kullacks in East Berlin. Maybe the central library here in the West will have phone books for East Berlin. And I will pass through Checkpoint Charlie and go into East Berlin—and I will go find Anja—and bring her home! If she is willing.
My other option is this: I still have Jelena's phone number. I have not spoken to her—since that terrible night. Anja had said nothing in the following days. So apparently, she did not know about my dinner with Jelena... about what happened. Jelena must not have mentioned it. But what is also confusing is this: Why didn't Jelena ask Anja if I had told her 'goodbye'? That would have brought everything out into the open.
But then, Anja went to the East on second January. Maybe Jelena was planning to say something after the holidays, but never did?
And how did Jelena get my office extension at work to call me that day. That message Prasa had given me? Did she just call the central number for Air Ministry compound and go from there, through the switchboard?
Something about that night never made sense to me. Why was she provoking me? Testing me? She loves Anja—is her protector. I did not tell her my true feelings. Maybe—I share in the blame. She was cruel though. How can we... how can I get over that?
But, Yes, I could call her tomorrow. See if she has heard from Anja. I thought of this before, but was afraid—of what she might do. Anyway, now, I have no choice—I must clear the air with Jelena—this must be done if things are to ever work out for me and Anja... that is... if there remains a chance for us.
So. I will go to McNair now. Then the library tomorrow. Also, I will call Jelena.
This is a risky plan, since I am now officially AWOL! I don't know what will happen if I get delayed for some reason at McNair. If I am discovered, I might be arrested—by my own people!
But, Yes, this is a good plan. I will find Anja, and bring her home from the East. What could go wrong? Where else could she be?
YOU ARE READING
The Wall Crossers
No FicciónStep into the captivating world of "The Wall Crossers," a spellbinding tale set against the backdrop of Cold War-era West Berlin in 1971 and 1972 to the latter half of the 21st century, from Berlin to Bhutan. This narrative weaves together the lives...
